Simply because a basketball team is ranked consistently amongst the nation’s top 25 women’s programs doesn’t guarantee a player will be happy with the college itself, nor does it ensure they will remain there for four years.
Janelle McManus, ’04, a 5-foot-6 guard out of Belle Harbor, NY, is a recent transfer from No. 25 ranked Boston College. She made the move in the fall of 2001, but her eligibility didn’t start until December 20, 2002 because of NCAA regulations.
McManus contributed to the Boston College squad her freshmen year, averaging 9.7 points per game. She saw action in all 29 of its games, including five starts.
In a matchup against UConn, she scored ten points and took down 5 rebounds. The Eagles even played the Stags during McManus’ freshman season. The game was the first game played at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Boston College won 74-55, and she scored three points.
Last year, Boston College coach Cathy Inglese said, “Janelle has made a decision to leave, based on personal reasons. She is leaving to pursue other opportunities.”
McManus agreed that she was in pursuit of other opportunities, and she thought a smaller campus would suit her needs better. Personal feelings in response to world tragedy also contributed to her decision.
“I transferred from Boston College because I wanted to be closer to home with my family and friends. The tragedies from 9-11 and the crash of Flight 587 that hit in my hometown played a major role as well,” McManus said. Flight 587 crashed a few miles from Belle Harbor, in Rockway Beach, NY.
With full support from her parents and the open arms of Fairfield, McManus joined the basketball program and made her debut on Dec. 20 2002 against Wisconsin – Green Bay.
She chipped in six points and three assists. She has played in each of Fairfield’s 16 subsequent games and started fourteen of them. She averages 13.5 points per game and lead the team in averaged minutes played with 34.3.
McManus’ addition to the Stag’s squad came at a key time after the loss of first team All-MAAC player Schrene Isidora to a knee injury.
According to head coach Dianne Nolan, they will look to McManus to lead the team’s offense because she has the ability to drop 30 points on any opponent on any given night.
The Fairfield team made an instantaneous positive impact on McManus. “The players, coaches, and the people involved in the program made me feel right at home,” she commented.
She remains friends with the players from Boston College, but has no regrets leaving them to play for a team of lesser magnitude and publicity.
“To tell you the truth, I’m happy where they are now. I played with a lot of those girls and still remained friends with them. There’s no love-loss there,” McManus stated.
McManus’ primary goal was to be happy at college regardless of its level of basketball, and she has achieved that goal at Fairfield. “Fairfield overall is the place where I want to be right now,” McManus said.
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